Fox Squirrel in heat, but did not get pregnant

[Randy14]

If a female fox squirrel was in heat, I suppose it is possible she couldn't find a mate. I understand the 'heat' window is between 8 to 24 hrs, and average gestation period is 44 days. If the squirrel didn't get pregnant, what happens physically and psychologically to the squirrel ?

My Roxy who lives 'wild' on her own in my yard has given birth regularly twice a year, mid-July and end of January since Jan 2017. On June 3rd last month, she was making her mating grunts. I figured she was right on target for her July litter. But she never gave birth. It is day 54 now, and have to assume she never got pregnant, even though her nipples did slightly darken. I didn't notice any other signs of pregnancy. Roxy recently turned 7 years old. So now I'm wondering if age or possible 'menopause' is a factor in inability to get pregnant.

Your opinion and comments (as always) is very much appreciated. Many thanks..........Randy

[Charley Chuckles]

Randy that's a good question I really have no idea🤷
I'm glad to know Roxy is still hanging around:grouphug

[TubeDriver]

Being a mom is so hard on the mother squirrel especially as they get older. I always think it is a nice break when they skip a pregnancy. Certainly squirrels will experience reproductive senescence at some point although I don't know what a typical age would be. A squirrel I released was regularly pregnant for 5 years and I could see the toll it took on her in the 4th and 5th years.

Perhaps there were no suitable males around? Or she has reached menopause? Or something happened that caused her to lose her babies?

Seven years is a good long time out there for a wild, she is a lucky gal!:w00t


Here is an article that describes animal models of menopause which contains info about rats. But if direct or indirect references to research that involves animals (who can not give consent) disturb you, its best to skip this:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404353/






If a female fox squirrel was in heat, I suppose it is possible she couldn't find a mate. I understand the 'heat' window is between 8 to 24 hrs, and average gestation period is 44 days. If the squirrel didn't get pregnant, what happens physically and psychologically to the squirrel ?

My Roxy who lives 'wild' on her own in my yard has given birth regularly twice a year, mid-July and end of January since Jan 2017. On June 3rd last month, she was making her mating grunts. I figured she was right on target for her July litter. But she never gave birth. It is day 54 now, and have to assume she never got pregnant, even though her nipples did slightly darken. I didn't notice any other signs of pregnancy. Roxy recently turned 7 years old. So now I'm wondering if age or possible 'menopause' is a factor in inability to get pregnant.

Your opinion and comments (as always) is very much appreciated. Many thanks..........Randy